If you like art:
- Research a countries most famous artists and recreate your favorite piece. Be sure to include a short biography of the artist and any relevant information on style and technique.
- Research a famous landmark or place and render a quality drawing, painting, or sculpture of the place. Be sure to include information on the location and why it was your choice.
- What are the traditional hand-crafts in the region? Use Youtube to learn one and make something to show to the class. Be prepared to demonstrate the process as well as a final product.
- Research traditional and popular music styles in the country/region and create a play list with details of the artists.
- Research traditional and popular music in the country/region and learn to play a piece on the instrument of your choice.
- Use YouTube to build a traditional instrument and learn how to play a song on it.
- What is a traditional or popular dance in the country? Who dances? When? Where? Learn the dance and be prepared to teach it to the class.
- Research a famous scientist from any time period in the country and write a biography, create a power point, or find another way to present information on their life and accomplishments.
- What major scientific challenges is the country facing at the moment? Pick one (medicine, transportation, clean water, communications, energy, etc). Outline the problem and what is being done to address it.
- Research an animal that is endemic to the region and find a creative way to share what you learned with the class.
- Research medicinal plants that are found in the region, how they have been used traditionally, and what role, if any they still play in the areas modern medicine.
- Research the average life expectancy and the leading cause of death in the country. What factors contribute to its prominence? How is it being addressed?
- Research traditional recipes and make a few. Put together a cookbook and bring in your favorite dish to share with the class.
- Find one or more local restaurants that serve regional cuisine and visit them. Call ahead and ask if you might be able to interview the owner or cook when you visit. When did their family emigrate? From where? Why? What is their favorite dish? Can you try it? Create a video blog of your adventures.
- Research how different regional cuisines have been Americanized. For example, how is Chinese food prepared and seasoned differently here than in China?
- Plan and budget a 10 day trip to the country of your choice. Where will you fly into? How will you get around? Where will you stay? What will you see while you there? What foods will you try? Use Google Trips to create an itinerary you can share with the class.
- Plan and budget a 20 day grand tour of the region. You will want to find all the best spots to highlight each country, there is no way to see them all. Dont forget to figure in travel time between cities. Where will you go? How much will it cost you to see everything you "just cant miss" on this once in a lifetime trip. Create an imaginary travel journal of your trip including pictures of each location, special meals, different types of transportation etc. You can find lots of examples through Google.
- Research the major resources and trade goods from the country or region. What are the major transportation hubs goods travel through? Where are they going? What is the country importing?
- Research the fastest developing industry in the country or region. Where is development concentrated? Why there? Is the development being spurred by internal growth or external investment?
- What traditional businesses and skills are being lost to modernization? What employment opportunities are available to those who are being put out of work? What creative ways are local businesses finding to compete?
- Who is the richest man in the country? How did he get that way.
- What are the customs and etiquette a business traveler from the US should know if they want to do business there.
- Research the progress of women's rights in the country or region How have they changed over time? Who are or were the leading figures of their women's movement? Why did they get involved? Create a short video biography using photos and clips you find on line. Narrate your video.
- What is the countries policy towards child labor and working conditions? How strictly are the laws enforced? Is there an active workers movement in the country? What event started it?
- What is considered a living wage in the country? What percentage of the population lives below that poverty line? Where in the country are wealth and poverty concentrated? Does the country have a growing slum population? How is the government handling it? How can you make this information interesting to the class?
- How does the countries criminal justice system work?
- Research, write, and film your own news broadcast from the country covering at least two stories and a weather report. Provide back ground information, context, and impact for each story.
- Are there any cultural ceremonies that are still practiced in the country (eample: Japanese tea ceremony), what are the reasons and rules of etiquette for the ceremony? How could you share this ceremony with the class?
- What religions are practiced in the country? What religions are growing and which ones are disappearing? Are there any culturally unique ways they practice or worship? In addition to major religions, are there any traditional religious practices? Can you create a video mash up presentation using clips you find on line to help the class see and understand these practices?
- What is the relationship between ethnic minorities and majorities in the country? Are there power struggles? Conflicts? Are they doing a reasonably good job of co-existing in peace
- What languages are commonly spoken in the country? Is there a national language? What language family is the it derived from? How long has the dominant language been spoken there? Pick a language and use a program like Duo Lingo to learn the basics.
- Do you know, or can you find, someone who speaks a language from the country? Ask them about learning English. Where did they learn English? When? What was/is the hardest part for them in using English? Are there words that mean something in their language that there is no English equivalent for? Are there words in English there is no native equivalent for? Is it common in there native country for people to speak more than one language? Record your interview with them. Ask them to teach you some conversational exchanges in their language.
- Check out this book list or Google "literature from every country" there are lots of different lists. Choose, read, and analyze a book from or set in a country and tell us all about it. Why do you think the book made the list for this country? How was the country portrayed in the book? How were the people portrayed? Do you think it was a common story, conveying an event or condition shared throughout the country, or was it a one time/unique story? Why do you think the author wrote it? What is the most interesting way you can think of to share this story with us?
- Watch and analyze several foreign films from the country. What did the movies have in common? How are they different from American films of the same genre? Pretend to be a famous film critic. Film yourself sitting in a chair next to the computer screen and play short clips from the movies while sharing your insights.
- What social media platforms are most commonly used in the region? What percentage of the population are using social media? How has social media changed their society?
- How accessible is the internet in the country? What government regulations are there on the internet? Do users have free speech rights on-line?
- Is the country leading the way, following, or being left behind in developing and implementing new technologies? Why? What is helping or hurting their development?
- What is the most popular video game played in the country (yes you can Google these things). What percentage of the population is playing? On what type of device? Why do you think the population is attracted to that game? How does it reflect their history and/or culture? Have you ever played the game? Try it if you can.
- What is the status of Christianity in the country/region? Is the church growing or shrinking? Give a Power Point presentation including maps and graphs of your research.
- Read a biography or autobiography of missionary to that country or region. Come to class in character and tell us about your life and experiences.
- Research the persecuted church in a country or region through Voice of the Martyrs. Come up with an informational presentation for your church on the prayer and physical needs that they can help meet.
- history
- government
- national threats and security
- internal conflict
- leisure activities like sports or games
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